The Mets have signed Trayce Thompson to a minor league deal, reports Andy Martino of SNY. The outfielder will receive an invitation to major league Spring Training.
Thompson, 33 in March, is coming off a frustrating season. He seemed to have a breakout in 2022, hitting 13 home runs in 80 games for the Dodgers. He struck out at a 36.5% clip but also drew walks in 12.5% of his plate appearances and his outfield defense was given strong marks. FanGraphs considered him to be worth 2.5 wins above replacement, a solid tally for barely half a season.
The Dodgers brought him back but he couldn’t maintain that in 2023. His performance was diminished in the first couple of months before he suffered a left oblique strain in early June. He was still on the injured list in late July when he was flipped to the White Sox as part of the Lance Lynn/Joe Kelly trade. He activated from the IL a few days later but continued to struggle. He finished the season with a 43% strikeout rate and batting line of .163/.285/.294. He was outrighted off Chicago’s roster at the end of the season.
The Mets will give Thompson a chance for a fresh start and add him to their outfield mix in a non-roster capacity. They have Brandon Nimmo in center field but questions in the corners. Starling Marte, who is coming off an injury-marred season, is slated to be in one corner. DJ Stewart could be in another corner after finishing 2023 on a tear, but he’s a poor defender and might be better utilized in a designated hitter/bench bat capacity. Thompson has played all three outfield spots in his career and can potentially slot in as needed. If he gets added to the roster at any point, he is out of options but has just over four years of major league service time, meaning he could be retained next year if he gets back in good form.
This offseason has seen the Mets place a particular emphasis on depth. In recent months, they have claimed Penn Murfee, Zack Short, Tyler Heineman and Cooper Hummel off waivers. They have given one-year deals to Luis Severino, Joey Wendle, Michael Tonkin, Jorge López and Austin Adams. They have also given minor league deals to Cole Sulser, Kyle Crick, José Iglesias, Taylor Kohlwey, Rylan Bannon and now Thompson.
Americanentropy
Slow news day.
Misfit0620
No it’s actually a good news day. Guys are getting signed. That Trayce isn’t your cup of tea is a different story. I myself am a fan of his so in glad he’s getting another opportunity
desertball
What are you a fan of exactly? I was a fan back when the Dodgers got him from CWS. That was when he was a toolsy prospect with huge K numbers in like 2017 or so.
Misfit0620
Yes all of that. Plus his dad is a Lakers legend seems like an over all good dude. Can still hit dingers when his swing is going right and why do I have to justify why I’m a fan of his? Other than I just am?
SeeUonTheUlnarSide
The Mets gambled on Tommy Pham and DJ Stewart, both castaways with upside. Hopefully, Trayce is similar, shows out and becomes 5th OF on the MLB squad.
desertball
Just a question. Nothing more than curiosity
MLB Top 100 Commenter
That’s cool Thimpson’s good character and family tree get him a fan despite being a strikeout machine. Time for the dude to find a new sport or new occupation.
avenger65
“…his performance was diminished…” Yep. That’s when the Sox take players. Not the year before when they were good.
avenger65
I’m pretty sure Thompson was with the Sox this year long before the Kelly/Lynn trade.
whiteysox
No
mbreslow77
It’s heating up
10centBeerNight
The loudmouths will demand Stearns head on a stick for this malfeasance
brooklyn62
It’s not the true NY Mets fans 10center…it’s more like the NY METH fans that are amped up like that!
10centBeerNight
Oh yes. There is a clear distinction between the passionate knowledgeable NYM fans and the 3 AM WFAN rage out caller types. The Joey Buttafuoco element of fandom
Hurricane Sandy
That you’re listening to WFAN at 3 AM is more a reflection on you as opposed to the average human. I haven’t listened to overnights on WFAN since like 2011.
gardyparty
@Hurricane, overnights with the Schmoozer. I used to love FAN. Anytime I try to listen to it now, I find it both irritating and depressing. The hosts might be dumber than the callers.
Blue Baron
@HurricaneSandy: You’re just a kid. I won a free trip to Cooperstown for Reggie Jackson’s HOF induction by being the first caller with the correct answer to a trivia question on WFAN in 1993.
I believe it was still on 1050 AM before moving down the dial to 66.
The question was who was the first US president to throw out the first pitch at an opening day game?
Hurricane Sandy
Well that’s awesome. Don’t get me wrong, I listen to the FAN all the time and grew up listening to Joe Benigno at night loving every minute of it. But the fact that this guy apparently listens to the FAN at three in the morning just to aggravate himself over a few crackpots calling the station tells me he probably needs a job or something.
Hurricane Sandy
Yeah most of the shows just don’t quite hit as much as they used to, but I do find Boomer and Gio entertaining and Sal and Brandon Tierney are a pretty good listen. I’ve always liked Evan Roberts but ever since he was paired with Carton, I feel like Carton changed him a little bit in a bad way.
Blue Baron
Back then, I was listening to Steve Somers.
Hurricane Sandy
My first exposure to the schmooze was the “Sweater and the Schmoozer” on middays.
10centBeerNight
Haven’t listened in ages my friend, but I fondly remember those overnight callers. And they migrated to the internet with the same madness. Keep it classy
Blue Baron
That’s only LFGMets. He doesn’t matter.
rct
Amen
nando390
Mets got fleeced.
phenomenalajs
Did they think they were getting Klay to shoot from long range? Otherwise, it’s an outfield speed depth signing.
avenger65
He should be dfa’d sometime around the third week of ST. Strange waste of time for the Mets.
acoss13
He had a nice run with the Dodgers, then cratered with the White Sox but that can be forgiven considering how poor things went in 2023 for the White Sox. Will probably do better with the Mets.
Doral Silverthorn
no.
He sucked with the Dodgers and Sox after he hit three homers in a game the first week of the season.
Then he sucked the rest of the way, and went right back to sucking some more with the Sox.
In closing, he is not a good MLB player.
Baseball’s Topics on Baseball Today
It’s more likely than not that is career is wrapping up and he’s not all that great anymore, but he did have a really good run with the Dodgers in 2022 which was just one season ago. It’s not like he’s always been bad.
Doral Silverthorn
fair for that part of 2022 when he wasn’t horrible and actually serviceable
Blue Baron
@halloffamernobodycares: In other words, he sucks except when he doesn’t, lol.
KennyF’nPowers
I just laugh at all the so called Mets fans who are cheering all these AAAA players and reclamation projects. If all these players have upside wouldn’t the small market teams pounce on them? They don’t have the budget that the Cohen owned Mets have. If I’m a A’s, Pirates, or Royals fan I’d be fine with these signings. We’re the F’n Mets. Hell the Royals signed Lugo and RP Stratton which is better than any of Stearns signings.
Blue Baron
@KennyF: And today is December 13th. More than three months left in the offseason.
The only thing dumber than panicking in the offseason is panicking early in the offseason.
SeeUonTheUlnarSide
It’s nice to see another voice of reason on these threads. People are reacting like the Mets should be signing 12 Mike Trouts in the offseason because Cohen has money.
Remember Mets fans – the 1986 World Series MVP was Ray Knight. Not Doc Gooden, Daryl Strawberry, Gary Carter or Keith Hernandez.
solaris602
Yeah, he’s proven that over a long period. He’ll produce a few game or even a week of solid gold followed by the most god awful plate famine you’ve ever seen. Thompson did have an epic opening week – actually it didn’t last even a week. He went 2 for May playing almost every day. It might have even been 1 for May, but you get the picture.
desertball
No. He’s had opportunities galore and aside from a couple months when the ball found his bat with frequency, he’s stunk. Good luck
This one belongs to the Reds
How much of that big contract is deferred though?
baseballpun
The invitation part.
Neuf
The plan is to get the “kid” pitcher…then they can further the pitching and find DH…even if they don’t get him they still have to proceed in strengthening the team so if there are pieces they want I am surprised with the slow pace✌️❤️
UncommonSense
Trayce is deferring his hits until 2034
desertball
Is or has been? Matters to Mets fans
DarrenDreifortsContract
He’s better at baseball than his brother and that’s where it stops.
mlbnyyfan
Good for Mets stockpiling cheap Outfielders like the Yankees did last year. Yankee fans know how that turned out. Cordero, Bauers, Calhoun, etc. The Mets can have Florial if they want
UncommonSense
Are we sure about that?
catojr
I’ve not been impressed with anything the Mets have done this year at all. it suck spent too much on two end of career pitchers has hurt. It’s sad when most Mets fans could make better moves than management has. Come on, Mets let’s go!
SeeUonTheUlnarSide
Uh…. you might want to cast some blame on the players under-performing. I mean, I’m no scout, but when players openly admit they performed horribly, it’s a clear indicator that the issue was not with the front office.
steven st croix
Andy Martino is a clown
budman3 2
Depth for the team plus when called up he’ll have a good run for a couple of weeks and help them.
AL B DAMNED
Daniel Vogelbach to sign with Mets 5Yr-$150M to Split time with Pete Alonzo at 1st base!
rct
Vogelbach signing a five year, $250,000 deal to be the spokesman for Golden Corral.
Wren
good for Trayce
drprofsps
This guy crushes righties, but cannot hit lefties, this is why he sucked last year with the Dodgers and CWS. I was hoping the Rangers would have signed him as our number four. Lucky Mets, maybe they will allow him to hit against Same handed pitchers?
JackStrawb
@drprofsps Thompson has ordinary platoon differentials for his career, and in his best year, 2022, he faced LHP in 38% of PA, a very typical number.
nrd1138
Ohhh no. What are the White Sox and Grifol going to do now?! They’ll have to find another underperformer to keep plugging into LF instead of just bringing up Colas and let him take his lumps to see what they have. Its OK though, the White Sox are so inept they will probably trade back for him at some point this coming season and give some Tatis type prospect for him.
Probably "Rick hahn"
Mets swinging for the fences!impact move!
LFGMets (Metsin7) #ConsistentlyBannedBaseballExpert
This is actually the first move that I’ve liked Stearns make since the offseason started. Trayce Thompson has a very nice batting style. I think if given the opportunity he could be a real bounce back player. I’m predicting .260 BA, 12 Hrs, and a OBP of .350 with solid defense. Will see though how much playing time he actually gets. I said a similar thing about Daniel Palka in 2022 (didnt get any playing time) and DJ Stewart and Tommy Pham in 2023. Was right before, probably will be right again
The619MetroPadres
You must be Thompson’s agent? (“LFGMets”). Either that or you’re high off your rear end from acid…(there is no third option) Signed- Carp.
solaris602
Yeah, if you simply sit down and watch all of his May 2023 ABs I guarantee you’ll have a different mindset. This guy has been the league’s pinball for years now, and there’s a reason for that.
The619MetroPadres
We will see Solaris. We shall see…
Datashark
Trayce is below a bench fodder – he is no MLB player at best he is AAA – sure he can ding one out of the park on a surge but he will go right back to under .200 average..
Beff Jagwell
It’s baffling how guys like this keep getting signed. He’s 33 and by MLB standards he is dreadful, and essentially always has been. As a fan of baseball in general, I’d rather see a young guy with a high ceiling take his lumps, than someone everyone knows isn’t good…and never will be.
solaris602
Thompson fills a void left by Ryan Langerhans and Drew Stubbs. Good glove, exceptional speed, but he’s never gonna hit. Really Billy Hamilton is the left handed version of Thompson. Teams think they can live with the complete absence of offense from these guys, but it never lasts very long.
Beff Jagwell
I have never seen much of his defense, so I would have to take your word for that. But, I have seen his offense, and the only person who looks worse than him in all of Baseball is Martin Maldonado..
MetsFanInMexico
I like this move more than the Giants signing Lee
mohoney
Why does this guy still keep getting chances?
The619MetroPadres
Thompson > Ohtani. Signed- Carp.
JackStrawb
“This offseason has seen the Mets place a particular emphasis on depth.”
No—this is depth’s depth. You don’t want to see a 33 year old Trayce Thompson in Queens until your first seven choices in the outfield are sidelined. Trayce, if he even makes the Mets AAA affiliate, will be getting bounced around LF, CF, RF, DH, bench….
Nothing wrong with that, and every team needs an 8th OFer on its depth chart, but the article doesn’t really get it right. The Mets haven’t gotten deeper this offseason in any meaningful sense. What they’ve really done, for the most part, is beef up the depth’s depth, the last 10-15 players of the roughly 55 players it will use during the course of an MLB season, guys who’ll get 13 innings on the mound or 16 innings in the field. Think Jimmy Yacabonis or Abraham Almonte on the 2023 Mets.
This does have value, btw. Finding players at the butt end of the roster who are poor rather than abysmal can actually win you a couple of games over the course of a season. The Mets were ridiculously bad at this over the course of Alderson’s tenure as GM (one year their worst players cost them an astronomical 9 wins over the course of the year), and a little better with Eppler there, though that was more by chance than design. If Stearns makes a concerted effort at this while building a team targeting 85 wins in 2024 (which is still very much in doubt), these ‘end of the roster’ players could make the difference between making and missing the postseason.